i86S- issi] DRO ' »M1 VI.I ' 381 



contact with stigma, as some Frenchman says occurs with Letter 701 

 some other plants, as Viola odorata and I think />. 



1 heartily wish I could accept your kind invitation, f<>r 

 I am not by nature a savage, but it is impossible. Forgive 

 my dreadful handwriting, none of my womenkind arc about 

 to act as amanuensis. 



To William C. Tait. Letter 702 



Mr. Tait, to whom the following letter is addressed, was resident 

 in Portugal. His kindness in sending plants of Drosophyllum lusitanicum 

 is acknowledged in Insectivorous Plants. 



Down, March 12th, 1869. 



I have received your two letters of March 2nd and 5th, 

 and I really do not know how to thank you enough for your 

 extraordinary kindness and energy. I am glad to hear that 

 the inhabitants notice the power of the Drosophyllum to catch 

 (lies, 1 for this is the subject of my studies. I have observed 

 during several years the manner in which this is effected, and 

 the results produced in several species of Drosera, and in the 

 wonderful American Dioncea, the leaves of which catch insects 

 just like a steel rat-trap. Hence I was most anxious to learn 

 how the Drosophyllum would act, so that the Director of the 

 Royal Gardens at Kew wrote some years ago to Portugal 

 to obtain specimens for me, but quite failed. So you sec 

 what a favour you have conferred on me. With Drosera 

 it is nothing less than marvellous how minute a fraction 

 of a grain of any nitrogenised matter the plant can detect; 

 and how differently it behaves when matter, not containing 

 nitrogen, of the same consistence, whether fluid or solid, 

 is applied to the glands. It is also exquisitely sensitive to 

 a weight of even the TinW °f a grain. From what I can see 

 of the glands on Drosophyllum I suspect that I shall find only 

 the commencement, or nascent state of the wonderful capa- 

 cities of the Drosera, and this will be eminently interesting 

 to me. My MS. on this subject has been nearly ready f 1 

 publication during some years, but when I shall have strength 

 and time to publish I know not. 



And now to turn to other points in your letter. I am 

 quite ignorant of ferns, and cannot name your specimen. 

 The variability of ferns passes all bounds. With respect to 



1 The natives are said to hang up plants of Drosophyllum in their 

 cottages to act as fly-papers {Insectiv. Plants, p. 3321 



